Who is Joseph Fulce?That's probably what a lot of MU fans are asking themselves right now, not long after learning that Iman Shumpert chose the Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech instead of the Golden Eagles.
Well, he's a 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing from Plano, Tex. who's been on MU's radar for some time thanks in large part to the Golden Eagles' new Texas connection, Buzz Williams.
Fulce is playing this season at Tyler (Tex.) Junior College, and will have three years of eligibility left when he arrives at MU.
He originally committed to Texas A&M out of high school - where Williams was lead recruiting coordinator at the time under then-coach Billy Gillispie - but instead wound up enrolling at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Va. because of academic concerns.
Fulce averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in helping lead Massanutten to a 20-9 record. He ultimately re-opened his recruitment and wound up signing in April of this year with the University of New Orleans, where Williams had just completed his first year as head coach.
He was released from his letter over the summer when Williams resigned in order to accept an assistant's position at MU, but clearly Williams kept an eye on Fulce despite his change in locale.
Fulce is the second Texas recruit in the past five days to commit to MU; on Sunday, Class of 2009 wing Erik Williams of Cypress Springs High School gave an oral commitment. Fulce is the second member of MU's 2008 class, joining guard Nick Williams of Mobile, Ala.
MU has one scholarship for 2008 remaining and remains involved with a couple of intriguing prospects, including point guard Tyshawn Taylor of St. Anthony's in Jersey City, N.J. (who's supposed to be visiting this week) and forward-center Chris Otule of Fort Bend Bush High School in Richmond, Tex.
The Golden Eagles are also awaiting word from 6-7 wing Jared Swopshire of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Swopshire visited MU over the weekend with Shumpert and Nick Williams, and is expected to choose between the Golden Eagles, Clemson and Louisville after making one final visit to Louisville this weekend.
And don't think that just because Fulce has already committed that Swopshire is automatically eliminated from consideration. Coach Tom Crean oversigned by one player heading into this season, and the possibility remains strong he could do so again.
I'll have more on the Fulce situation on Friday.
http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2007/10/18/who-is-joseph-fulce.aspx
